Leeds Locals XI: Which footballing stars were born in the Yorkshire city?

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Do Leeds United regret not signing up or keeping hold of one or two of these Yorkshire-born stars?

It’s only right that a city with such a proud sporting heritage can spawn so many gifted footballers. While some made their name in the Leeds United first-team, becoming cult heroes along the way, others enjoyed impressive and eclectic careers elsewhere, breaking the occasional record.

But who makes our Leeds Locals XI?

David Stockdale

Leeds may be in rather safe hands at the moment with Rob Green displaying his England international tendencies but, as it stands, Brighton are three places and eleven points ahead of Garry Monk’s side at the Championship summit with the league’s best defensive record to boot.

And that is partly down to the excellence of Leeds-born shot-stopper Stockdale. Few keepers outside the top flight are blessed with such consistency.

Jack Hunt

Hailing from the market town of Rothwell, right-back Hunt has represented almost every one of Leeds’ Yorkshire neighbours from Huddersfield to current club Sheffield Wednesday via Barnsley and Rotherham United.

Energetic, tenacious and an excellent crosser of the ball, the superb form of Luke Ayling means he’s unlikely to complete the set any time soon.

Richard Naylor

Taylor may have spent the first 14 years of his professional career in the South Western surrounds of Ipswich Town but, at the age of 31, finally realised his boyhood dream by putting pen to paper on a professional deal at Leeds United.

The experienced centre-back, appointed captain just six months later, led by example at the heart of the defence but was unable to drag Leeds up the table. Two years after being released, he returned to Elland Road once more as a coach, winning the league with the Under 18s before Massimo Cellino swung the axe. As he tends to do.

Peter Swan

The part-time centre-half, part-time centre-forward is a dying positon in football. Yet, back in the late 80s and early 90s, the Yorkshire Amateurs graduate helped popularise the position, averaging a goal every five games for Leeds United between ’85 and ’89.

A diplomatically ‘combative’ footballer, Swan relied on his tenacity rather than his technical ability and remained a stalwart for the likes of Port Vale, Hull and Burnley in the lower leagues.

Andre Wisdom

Turns out Red Bull can clip your wings too. Wisdom has only started six games in the Austrian Bundesliga for the fizzy-drink funded Salzburg this season after similarly disappointing loans at Norwich and West Brom.

The future of the Liverpool defender, born and raised in Chapeltown but beginning his career with neighbouring Bradford, remains up in the air.

Aaron Lennon

Becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the Premier League in 2003, Lennon is still there 14 years on. After ten years with Tottenham which never quite lived up to lofty expectations despite that famed Champions League jaunt in 2010/11, the 21-time England international is now an impact sub at Everton.

Could a romantic return to Yorkshire beckon in the near future?

David Batty

It’s not often a five minute clip from 1992 Makita Tournament pre-season friendly clash goes viral. Then again, it’s not every day the average football fan gets to sit back and enjoy the tropes of the ‘90s as scrapping, snarling David Batty bullied Sampdoria into submission.

Complete with curtain haircut and sharpened studs, the continental class of Roberto Mancini and co never stood a chance. But that’s the kind of player Batty was. Competitive, spirited and supremely passionate. There’s a reason he played over 300 league games for his boyhood club.

Nick Montgomery

The twice-capped Scotland Under-21 international may not be the most instantly recognisable name on this list but Montgomery will never have to buy his own pints in Sheffield city centre. A stalwart for The Blades for twelve years, the combative midfielder played just shy of 400 games for one of Britain’s most historic football clubs.

Amongst the constant upheaval at Elland Road, the boyhood Leeds fan was an ever-present just a few miles south at Bramall Lane.

James Milner

Like Lennon, fellow England international and local lad Milner once held the distinction of breaking a top flight record at his beloved boyhood club. From season ticket holder to ball boy to youngest ever Premier League goalscorer at the age of just 16, the proud Yorkshireman remains a pillar of constancy whether on the wing, in midfield or, latterly, filling in at left back.

Alan Smith

The mere mention of Alan Smith divides Leeds United fans to this day. Kissing the badge with tears in his eyes on his final appearance for his beloved Whites did not stop banners of Judas accompanying his subsequent cross-Pennines switch to t’other United.

Yet, the battle-hardened striker remains a cult hero for some. After all, without Leeds’ 2004 relegation, who’s to say Smith wouldn’t have remained true to his White Rose roots?

Brian Deane

No matter where the TV treasure chest takes us, from a 39^th game in busy Beijing to 3D football beamed onto specially adapted contact lenses, Brian Deane will always be the man who reigned in the Premier League. Five minutes in against Manchester United in 1992, the grainiest of pictures show Deane putting Sheffield United ahead, becoming the competition’s first ever goalscorer.

Twelve years on, Deane finally featured in Leeds’ famous white, netting six times in 31 games. Though the fact he put their Lancastrian rivals in the history books for all the wrong reasons means he’ll always be welcome at Elland Road.